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About Geoff B.

Geoff B graduated from Stanford University (class of 1985) and worked in journalism for several years until about 1992, when he took up his second career in telecommunications sales. He has held many callings in the Church, but his favorite calling is father and husband. Geoff is active in martial arts and loves hiking and skiing. Geoff has five children and lives in Colorado.

What many members forget is that the Church is a small part of the U.S. population. We tend to excel at business and a few in sports. But, other exceptional achievers tend to be few and far between.

If you think writers, how many major LDS best sellers have there been in the last few decades? The ones that come to mind are Stephanie Meyers, Orson Scott Card, Richard Paul Evans and Steven Covey. Considering there are 20-30 top tier writers a year nationally, it is a pretty small set.

What’s interesting about that list is that writers/producers/directors who are active LDS are a much more notable bunch than the active LDS actors. And they’ve helped create some great movies too. Secret of NIMH, for example (Don Bluth also directed just about every other cartoon movie in the ’80’s that wasn’t Disney).

We do alright with famous authors, especially when it comes to fantasy/sci-fi (most big fans of fantasy and juvenile fantasy have probably read quite a few LDS authors). Dave Wolverton (aka David Farland), Brandon Sanderson (who took over the Wheel of Time series after Robert Jordan died–one of the most well-known fantasy series of all time), Brandon Mull (children’s fantasy). I’m probably missing some here.

but the star says she’s too selfish to fully devote herself to the church. “I haven’t been an actively practicing Mormon in years,” she revealed to the Daily Mail. “I satisfy my vices instead of fighting them. I love being a sinner.”

Geoff, I think you should follow the celebrity tabloids more closely. There are many great moral cautionary tales to be gleaned from the Kardashians.

On another note, does anyone regret that former Mormons can no longer self-identify as Mormons because there is not really a strong cultural identity for non-practicing Mormons? This I believe is something Andrew S. and others are trying to change. In the Catholic tradition, you can still be a proud Catholic, even if you don’t believe anything to Pope says.

Would it not be more positive, if these non-practicing Mormons could identify more with positive aspects of the culture, even without belief?

Or does it hurt the church when someone self identifies as Mormon, who doesn’t follow the standards or believe the teachings?